Portland Thorns FC have acquired forward Jessica McDonald and the rights to defender Rebecca Moros from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for forward Danielle Foxhoven, it was announced today. As part of the deal, Reign FC agreed to remove Moros from their Discovery List so she could be signed by Portland.
McDonald, 25, recorded three goals and two assists in 16 appearances (9 starts) during the 2013 National Women’s Soccer League season playing for the Chicago Red Stars and Seattle Reign FC. Beginning the season with Chicago, McDonald made nine appearances (3 starts) for the Red Stars, recording one assist. She was waived by Chicago on June 28 and quickly signed by Seattle Reign FC. Appearing in seven games (6 starts) for Seattle during the second half of the season, McDonald logged three goals and one assist to end the year among the club’s leading scorers.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., McDonald was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2010 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft by Chicago. She made five appearances during an injury-shortened rookie season in 2010. McDonald signed with Australian W-League side Melbourne Victory for the 2012-13 season and registered seven goals in 13 games, helping lead Melbourne to the 2013 W-League Grand Final.
McDonald also has experience at the youth international level for the United States, playing for the U-17, U-20 and U-23 Women’s National Teams.
“Jessica is a versatile forward,” head coach Cindy Parlow Cone said. “She is good one-on-one, can play with her back to goal and also does well heading to goal. She will add another dimension to our attack, one that we were missing this past season.”
Moros, 28, spent the last two seasons playing for Japanese Nadeshiko League champions INAC Kobe Leonessa. A native of Larchmont, N.Y., Moros made 21 league appearances (16 starts) over two seasons in Japan, helping INAC Kobe Leonessa win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. Moros helped the club win the Japanese domestic league cup in 2013, making 10 appearances (6 starts) in the competition. Across all competitions, Moros logged time in 37 games (27 starts) for INAC Kobe Leonessa as an outside back since 2012.
A former United States youth international, Moros played 44 games for the Washington Freedom in WPS from 2009-10 and stayed with the team when it relocated to Florida and became magicJack for the 2011 season. A standout at Duke University from 2003-07, Moros was traded during the 2011 season to the Western New York Flash, where she made 10 appearances and helped the Flash capture the WPS championship while playing an integral part in a defense that finished tied for the fewest goals allowed during the regular season.
“Rebecca is a very technical outside back who loves to get forward into the attack,” Cone said. “After playing consistently the last two seasons in Japan, she will help us continue to play the attacking style of soccer that we want to play.”
Foxhoven, 24, appeared in 21 games (8 starts) for Portland during the inaugural NWSL season. A former standout at the University of Portland, Foxhoven registered four goals, including three as a second-half substitute during the regular season. She scored a goal in back-to-back matches June 6-16, and finished the regular-season ranked fifth on the team with eight points. Foxhoven started the final seven games of the regular season and both playoff games for Thorns FC.
“Serving as one of our main options off the bench, Dani worked her way into the starting lineup later in the season and played an important role in helping us win the championship in our first season,” Cone said. “She has been a quality person both on and off the field during her time with the club. She will be missed and we wish her the best of luck.”
“As part of the Thorns organization, I have been involved in many great things and I am very thankful for that,” Foxhoven said. “I would like to thank the staff, the players, and most importantly the fans for their support this past season. While I’ll miss Portland and all of my teammates, I am very excited to embark on a new adventure with Seattle Reign FC.”
